Diet For Gout

The Ideal Diet for Gout Patients

Gout is a painful type of arthritis that is thought to be associated with ones diet, especially diets high in seafood, meat and alcohol. People diagnosed with gout used to be put on strict gout diets that were difficult to maintain and not properly followed. Fortunately, today there are medications that help reduce gout symptoms and occurrences, so diets for those who suffer with gout are not as strict and easier to follow.

Gout is caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood, causing crystal to form and accumulate around a joint. The body make uric acid as it breaks down purines.  Purines do occur naturally in the body, but also come from eating certain types of foods, such as herring, asparagus, mushrooms, anchovies and organ meats.

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The diet necessary to help alleviate gout is very similar to the healthy eating plan recommending for all individuals. Therefore, going on a gout diet, helps a person maintain a healthy weight as well as avoid diseases that are caused by unhealthy diets. Following a gout diet also  helps to control and maybe even reduce the production of uric acid that causes the painful episodes.

The main focus of  the gout diet is to reduce the intake of foods that are high protein. One of the main things to remember on a gout diet is to drink plenty of water to help flush the uric acid from the body. There are also other guidelines, such as

• Limit the amount of meats you eat. This includes meat, fish and poultry because animal proteins are high in purines. Gout suffers should limit their intake of these proteins to an amount of four to six ounces a day.
• Get more plant based proteins. Beans and legumes are excellent sources of protein and not high in purines. This also helps cut back on saturated fats, which may contribute to gout.
• Avoid or greatly limit alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages interfere with the bodys elimination of uric acid. Beer has been directly linked to gout attacks. If you want to drink, try only one or two five-ounce glasses of wine, as this will not increase your risk.
• Include low-fat dairy products in your diet. Studies have shown that eating dairy products, such as yogurt, can help reduce the risk.
• Cut back on refined carbohydrates. Choosing complex carbohydrates instead.
• Cut back or avoid sugar. Sugary foods make it more difficult to lose weight and maintaining proper weight is important in reducing gout risks. Although it is suspected, there is no direct link between sugar and high uric acid levels.
• Drink coffee. Some studies suggest that drinking four to six cups a coffee a day can help reduce gout attacks in men.

Following a gout diet can help reduce uric acid levels and help eliminate it from the body, reducing attacks. However, you will still be required to continue with your gout medication, as diet alone does not reduce the uric acid concentrations in your blood enough to stop taking medication. Diet and medication together can help reduce gout attacks and help you manage the condition. Daily exercise and maintaining a healthy weight is also important for those with gout. Diet and exercise also have positive effects on your overall health, making it easier for you to manage gout attacks and may make them less severe.

Gout is not curable, but it is manageable. Incorporating a few lifestyle changes with a exercises and a gout diet can really help keep the uric acid levels in the blood down and help reduce the painful gout attacks that occur.  

 Click here to find out how I got rid of my gout for good